Successful weekend for Wildcats; tied for first in Hockey East with BC and Friars

By AL PIKE

apike@fosters.com

Monday, February 25, 2013

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KEVIN GOUMAS

BURLINGTON, Vt. – KG called it.

“I think special teams (are) going to be a big key,” junior forward Kevin Goumas said last week when sizing up the two-game series against Vermont.

“We have to get shots to the net and create traffic in front,” he said. “The power play takes all five guys moving the puck. When you slow the puck down it allows the other team to recover and get in the shot lanes and block shots, and that’s what’s been happening.”

Inconsistent for much of the season, the power play erupted for four goals over the weekend, including three in Friday night’s 4-3 win, and was a major reason the University of New Hampshire hockey team was able to take three of a possible four points from the Catamounts at Gutterson Field House.

The Wildcats’ only goal in Saturday’s 1-1 tie also came on the power play.

“We’ve kind of been struggling a little bit before this,” said sophomore defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, “but now it’s the present, and that’s all that really matters. Come playoff time that will be huge”

Like the power play, van Riemsdyk figured in four of the five goals against Vermont. He had three assists Friday and scored UNH’s goal on Saturday. The Wildcats scored three power-play goals in the same game for the first time in more than two years.

“Obviously the power play was big for us,” said coach Dick Umile.

After giving up two power-play goals against Boston College, the penalty killing unit returned to form, going 4 for 4 over the weekend, including 3 for 3 Friday night as UNH extended its unbeaten streak to three games (1-0-2).

The Wildcats’ penalty kill has been among the nation’s best all season.

Vermont had won four of five games and three in a row entering the weekend series against UNH, which fell behind 1-0 in each game. The Catamounts had given up just two goals in its previous three games combined.

“They play a tough system to play against,” van Riemsdyk said. “They chip pucks out and pack it in a little bit. It’s always a grind, but I thought we battled and came back from down one. Three out of four points isn’t bad. You’d like to take all four, but we’ll take the positives from it.”

The Wildcats managed only two shots on goal in the first period Saturday. Van Riemsdyk’s goal at 8:53 of the second came on their fifth shot.

“It was all Vermont the first half of the game,” Umile said. “We fought through it and made it a game. They played hard. That’s the way it is.”

The Wildcats now return home for the final four games of the regular season against UMass and Maine. They host the Minutemen in a two-game series next weekend at the Whittemore Center.

UNH is trying to build some momentum after taking four of a possible six points from its last three games, including three of four at Vermont.

There are multiple races going on in Hockey East. Six teams remain in contention for the regular-season title or at the very least home ice for a quarterfinal series.

“We’ll take three points on a weekend, especially up here,” Umile said. “It’s a tough place to play. Everybody’s fighting for something.”

Two points separate first place from fifth with Boston College, UNH and Providence tied for first with 28 points apiece. Merrimack is in fourth with 27 points and UMass-Lowell is fifth with 26. Boston University is in sixth with 24 points.

Meanwhile, four teams are battling for the final two playoff spots, including UMass and Maine. The Minutemen are currently in eighth place with the Black Bears one point behind in ninth.

UNH is 9-3-1 at home this season.

“That’s definitely a positive,” van Riesmdyk said. “We love playing in front of the home crowd. They always seem to give us energy. We’ve had a lot of road games, now we’re going to get back home and hopefully string some wins together. We’ve got a good home record. It’s nice to be in the familiar confines.”

The Wildcats played five of seven games in February on the road, including the last four. Saturday’s deadlock was their third in five games.

“Each game you come in wanting to win,” van Riesmdyk said. “It was a hard-fought tie. It could have gone either way. I think we’ll be pretty positive about taking three out of four (points). Every point is huge so to get one here (Saturday) was big. We got two (points) Saturday. We’ll move on and get ready for next weekend.”

“He played great (Saturday),” Umile said. “He probably wasn’t at his best (Friday) night, but (Saturday) he battled and helped us get this point, no doubt.”

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The Wildcats improved to 11-0-4 when van Riemsdyk registers at least one point.

“I don’t know if I’d put too much into that,” he said. “As long as we’re putting pucks in the back of the net, that’s all that matters.”

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Goumas suffered a laceration on his forehead and had to leave the game after getting checked into the boards in the second period Saturday. After getting several stitches, he returned for the third period.

“We lost Goumas for half the game,” Umile said. “He got hit pretty good, stitches and all that. The guys stayed with it. I think from that point on we battled back.”

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Freshman forward Kyle Smith made his college debut Friday night. He also played Saturday, skating right wing on a line with senior Scott Pavelski at center and freshman Maxim Gaudreault on the left side.

Junior Nick Sorkin, who has been playing with a cast to protect a broken hand, sat out the weekend series.